As already told, it happenned to me some years ago, emptying a monster, stagnant water tank with five big snapping turtles.
I could swear i was dying. Still feel the taste.
I could swear i was dying. Still feel the taste.
Know When To Stop
- Thread starter Dr_Shakalu
- Start date
Hey everyone. I'm not sure if anyone has posted this before but I couldn't find anything about it. Well, I learned the hard way that you must know when to stop sucking on the hose when you vacuum gravel during a water change. I put the tube that you vacuum the gravel with and sucked on the other end to get the water going into the bucket. I wasn't paying attention and got a mouth full of dirty, smelly water from under the gravel.
You might want to learn an alternative method to "sucking" the siphon to get it started. Here are two alternative methods:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_lFtqsg6GY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rny12X9KaI
In video #2 (if you want to)...fast-forward to about the 2:40 sec part of the video to see the method (the person doing the video is a bit "long-winded")!
HTH
That's what came to my mind after I posted. I also wondered when someone was going to say that!
Too many times for me. Some real nasty ones too!!!
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Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
The sad thing is even when you do know every now and then you get a mouth full. I've been doing this for 23 years not and it still happens to me 1-2x per year.
Using a python or other tube-with-valve type water changer you can place the vac in the water up to the valve so the vac and tubing are filled all the way to the valve, shut the valve, move the valve so it's outside the tank and below water level, open the valve and the siphon should start. When there's already water in the tube that method sometimes doesn't work but you can still place the vac in the water and walk some of the water out the end of the tube which will generate suction at the vac and start the siphon. I've sucked filter, fish, and turtle water enough times to know I never want to again.
i have done that many times, heck i was over at a friends, helping them do a water change on there hexagon tank... low and behold i sucked on the other end of the hose to get the water going, got a bunch of water in my mouth and spit the water out, started coughing and they started laughing LOL.. was funny from there end but i am use to it now.. ( getting water in my mouth that is ) i dont even rinse my mouth anymore.. just spit the water out and be on my way...
Use your gravel cleaner attached to hoze if you've not got one with a valve on it get one its the best £10 I've ever spent, push it up and down it the tank to create a siphon once its goin your away no more nasty water in mouth , either that or the FX idea I've got one but never tried it mite give it a go next time do canister clean out
